2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Nigeria to face South Africa, Benin, three others in Group C

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Africa, NRTC reports.

Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) held the draw ceremony for the qualifiers in Abidjan, Ivory Coast following the 45th Congress of the football body.

Nigeria has been pitched alongside South Africa, Zimbabwe, Benin, Rwanda and Lesotho in the Group C.

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For the first time, nine African countries plus one international qualifier will represent the continent in the 2026 World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Full Draws

Group A

Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Djibouti

Group B

Senegal, DR Congo, Mauritania, Togo, Sudan, South Sudan

Group C

Nigeria, South Africa, Bénin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Lesotho

Group D

Cameroon, Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Swaziland, Mauritius

Group E

Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania, Niger, Eritrea

Group F

Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Gambia, Burundi, Seychelles

Group G

Algeria, Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Somalia

Group H

Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe

Group I

Mali, Ghana, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros, Chad